Gary Meers, Ed.D.

About me

I am an Education Advisor/Consultant for MaxKnowledge. I write courses that assist in the professional development of career college instructors. These courses range in content from the introductory level to advanced instructional development. I started my teaching career as an instructional technology teacher on the high school level, completed graduate school and then moved into higher education. I spent many years in the area of teacher training at the University of Nebraska. While at the University of Nebraska I stared working with career college instructors to improve their instructional delivery skills. As a result of these experiences I have been a consultant to career colleges throughout the United States and a number of foreign countries.

Activity

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor REFOCUS

Laura, This is a good point and one we need to remember as we get deeper into a course. Our students will wear down and they may not stay up with all that they need to. So by refocusing both them and ourselves we can get everyone ramped up and finish out the course in good standing. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor in Retention

Laura, Yes, it is. It is also the fun part of being an instructor. Sharing the growth of students through support and encouragement helps them to be successful while we impact their lives. This is one of the rewards of being an educator. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Creating Personal Support Systems

Laura, You are doing such a great service for your students by helping them to create support systems both in and out of school. These support systems are what will keep many of them in school when times get tough. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Offering Varied Instructional Delivery

Dorothy, What are some of the ways you do this with your students? Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Stacy, I think this is good to do because it shows the students that you have been where they are. Sometimes students think we instructors were just given our degrees and experience. They need to know we work hard and struggled to get to where we are so that we do understand the challenges they are facing. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Ana, So true and so important. We need to make a positive first impression because it is upon this first impression that the rest of the course is built. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Marcia, Your last sentence says a lot about our lives as educators. It seems that Plan A never works and in many cases neither does Plan B. I have been on Plan M or N when things really fall apart. You make a good point about how we need to have plenty of back up plans if we are going to be able to keep the class moving forward even when challenges arise. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Marcia, I agree because we are not only role models in terms of dress but also in leadership. Our language, conduct and attitude toward our professional are all read by students as they prepare to enter the field. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using Graphic Organizers

Brian, Great way to provide your students with physical as well as mental images from which they can internalize the content and organize it in their minds. You are giving them connecting points from which they can build their knowledge base and this will increase their long term memory retention. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Student Feedback

Amy, Well said about feedback. Feedback is just that, in that it helps with course improvement and professional growth. I use the 10% rule in terms of dealing with negative feedback. That is if 10% of the class comments on an activity or project in a way that suggests I need to change or improve it I will. When just one students makes a comment like this I consider it and then move on because it probably is based upon his or her challenge with the project rather than a need for change. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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